For The Dogs 4.15.2007 | 1 Comment(s)

I'm thinking seriously about joining the Southwest City dog park. I think my dog would benefit from the socialization, as would I, but I'm worried. My dog barks at other dogs. I've never seen her be aggressive in the sense that she foams at the mouth trying to get other dogs, she does listen to me when she sees another dog, but she doesn't know how to control herself at times. She also plays rough. She's a bull in a china shop for sure, so that makes me hesitant to sign her up.

I want her to get used to other dogs and start to ignore them when we're on our walks. If I walk around Francis Park, like this morning, I have to get off the path and sit my dog...and even then she can't control her excitement and she won't stay in her "stay." And then there's the barking at the other dog, I really don't like that.

My thought process on the dog park is this...it will wear her out and I think she'd have a lot of fun. She plays with my mom's dog just fine, we just can't introduce anything that looks like a ball while the two of them are together or else they start getting a bit possessive of the ball.

If anyone has any suggestions or would like to share your experiences woth your dog and the dog park I'd appreciate them.

By  Anonymous, at 11:20 AM

You should give it a try. Out dogs are growly and barky at other dogs if they are all on leashes when they meet. In the more unstructured dog park environment, they're fine. You won't know how she'll be unless you try. If it doesn't work out, consider it a donation to a worthy city cause.